Cardinals Drop Opening Match of Trinity Invite at Home to ECSU - Clark & Worcester St. Up Next

Pulling away to a comfortable lead and coasting in for a nine-point margin of victory in the opening set, Eastern Connecticut used a few late runs in the final two sets to close out its match at Wesleyan in the Trinity Invitational, 3-0, Fri., Sept. 13. Both teams will have a pair of matches during the Trinity Invitational on Saturday, with Wesleyan hosting Clark and Worcester St. while Eastern Conn. will be at Trinity, facing Bridgewater St. and Trinity.

Running off to a 7-2 start in the first set, the Warriors extended the lead to 10-4, and eventually 19-11 en route to the 25-16 win. The second set was tied 21-21 after a nip-and-tuck beginning as neither team led by more than two until Wesleyan forged a 13-10 edge. But Eastern countered with an 8-3 run for an 18-16 lead before the teams found themselves even. Eastern then rattled off four consecutive kills to take the 25-21 set. Eastern started off strong in the third set with a 7-3 margin, but Wesleyan rallied for a 13-13 deadlock. A 4-0 Warrior run spotted Eastern a 17-13 lead and Wesleyan got no closer than two down the stretch in the 25-22 set despite saving two match points at 24-20.

Wesleyan got eight kills with no error from Kim Farris '14 (#2, photo). Farris also had three blocks and three digs. Kate Centofanti '14 led the Cardinals with 11 digs while Rachel Savage '17 had 10. Abby Southam '16 also had three blocks. Coming off the bench, Brenna Tharnstrom '16 dished off 15 assists.